“Truck Driver” Knows Edge Rushers
January 29th, 2015
Clinton McDonald’s old teammate speaks out
One guy not gunning for a second Super Bowl ring with the Seahawks is Bucs defensive tackle Clinton McDonald.
Joe talked to a few of McDonald’s old teammates about him at Super Bowl Media Day in Phoenix, and one offered an interesting take.
Seahawks starting defensive end Cliff Avril (52.5 career sacks) misses McDonald, aka “Truck Driver,” as he was known in the Seahawks’ locker room.
“Truck Driver’s my guy, man,” Avril said. “He was awesome. You know, having him in the middle, he complemented us very well because he knew how to pass rush with the type of rushers we had, especially with me and Mike [Bennett] being speed guys off the edge. So he was real good at pushing the pocket and being able to play off us.”
It really raised Joe’s eyebrow that Avril specifically referenced McDonald knowing how to complement edge rushers and play to their strengths.
What happened when McDonald looked to his right this season? He saw a ghost of a right defensive end.
Thankfully, Jacquies Smith was let loose to blossom at LDE, replacing Will Gholston in the starting lineup midway through the season.
Defensive linemen are quick to talk about the nuances of rushing effectively as a unit. So the Bucs scored a nose tackle who is an instinctive and intelligent complementary pass rusher, and he didn’t have that much to work with. That’s just sad.
Despite missing three games due to injury, McDonald led Bucs defensive linemen with 34 solo tackles, and he added five sacks, an interception and two passes defensed.
January 29th, 2015 at 11:17 am
Gonna love when we take Leonard Williams at no. 1 or Brandon Scherff around 6
January 29th, 2015 at 11:39 am
Clint and Mankins got kicked in the nuts this season. Dam! It must suck to look at what could have been your future. Now all they are looking at is 2-14 instead of SB. SMH
January 29th, 2015 at 11:45 am
Uh gatrbuc, hate to break the news to ya but, bucs are not taking Williams or Brandon
January 29th, 2015 at 11:52 am
Called it as soon as we signed this dude. Best signing last year.
January 29th, 2015 at 11:53 am
boss…you can’t tell them that. It does not matter how many times they read or hear that the Bucs are going to draft Winston. They refuse to believe it.
Every analyst in the land could be saying it and it still won’t matter.
Tis going to be like this until May I suppose. Yet I try to save them the trouble every day telling them that their point is moot.
It doesn’t matter who THEY want. I think it’s already a done deal. Now we just have to wait to hear the name.
They also think Joe’s not really serious about Jameis Watch and he’s only doing it for hits just like with Johnny Watch. Joe, a few others, and me know different.
January 29th, 2015 at 12:08 pm
I wonder if Will Gholston could blossom into another Marcus Jones. Marcus flopped at DT but for a few years found a nice home rotating between RDE and LDE. He wasn’t the protype for this D at RDE but he was simply too strong for LTs…and at LDE he was too fast. Gholston’s body-type and physical skills remind me a little bit of Marcus Jones.
January 29th, 2015 at 12:41 pm
McDonald = best player on the Dline by far
January 29th, 2015 at 12:48 pm
How about Leonard Williams at #1. Koetter seems to like Glennon.
January 29th, 2015 at 1:20 pm
The Bucs really made a mess out of free agency lasy year, but this this was the bright spot. Hopefully Bucs will draft our future O-Line this time as the one they have now really stinks
January 29th, 2015 at 1:24 pm
@ Jack
Agreed. With the #1 pick in the draft, why not take the best player in the draft. Williams, GMC, McDonald – Yep
January 29th, 2015 at 1:33 pm
“McDonald = best player on the Dline by far”
——-
Idiotic comment of the day. First of many.
January 29th, 2015 at 1:46 pm
When you are a team like the Bucs, who have under-performed for several years and is in dire need of a QB, you basically have to pick one of the two QBs and hope for the best.
I fully expect Leonard Williams to be a beast and he should be great right out of the gate, just like Aaron Donald. With that said, you can’t knock Jacksonville for selecting a QB over Donald, because it’s a greater need…You can question if they picked the right QB, though, and the Bucs will be in a similar spot in a few months. Hit on the right QB and in a few years the payoff will be tremendous, miss on the QB and it’s another setback.
January 29th, 2015 at 1:48 pm
Ignore 87 all you want, but, you won’t be able to ignore the night of April 30th.
January 29th, 2015 at 2:04 pm
@ thegregwitful
Bucs also greatly need beastly pass rushers. At each one of Lovie’s pressers he continually said that they needed to get more preassure on the QB and better pass rush and Williams will be a beast quickly. He’s your “win now” guy
January 29th, 2015 at 2:17 pm
@ Hawaiian
Agreed. Many of which I’m sure will be yours
January 29th, 2015 at 2:29 pm
@Mr. Patrick,
Are you still butt hurt over yesterday? Why do you take things I say so personally. We aren’t dating or anything. It’s just the internet.
January 29th, 2015 at 3:03 pm
Even Tho Mike Johnson severely underperformed last year and Jaq Smith was a nice surprise. Johnson was payed far to much money to not try again and see if they can get him to produce. I have heavy doubt Lovie (although a Defensive guy) will miss on the chance of taking the top 2 QB’s coming out by taking Williams 1st overall.
This isn’t last year where the entire QB group looked weak. There are 2 legit (potential) franchise QB’s at the top of their game coming out. Your team NEEDS a qb desperately. There are no real options in the FA. Glennon is not your answer. Then you draft a QB first plain and simple.
January 29th, 2015 at 3:09 pm
Isn’t Avril supposed to be a FA this year too? Why not go out and reunite him with the “Truck Driver” Avril could add some needed pass rush to this group and competition and depth at either DE side.
January 29th, 2015 at 3:37 pm
While the Bucs do need pass rushers, it’s a position that is easier to fill in free agency compared to the QB spot. While the Bucs whiffed on Michael Johnson, regardless of his health he didn’t get it done anywhere near enough to justify his salary, would you rather take a shot on a guy like JPP in free agency to fill a need or work with the very mediocre crop of free agent QB set to hit the market?
I don’t want a Brian Hoyer or Mark Sanchez, the Bucs have had enough of those guys over the years. I’d rather take a shot on Winston or Mariota and hope the Bucs land a franchise QB and grab a pass rusher in round two or three and maybe another in free agency as opposed to the reverse.
January 29th, 2015 at 3:58 pm
@Hawaiian – $ for $ best DL on this team
January 29th, 2015 at 4:05 pm
@Mike10,
That’s not what he said. Is it your money anyway? Then why would you care who’s dollar for dollar the best? I promise you McDonald would be the very first one to tell you who is the best DL on the team, #93. So would every other player and coach in the NFL. There’s only a few clowns on this site that would feel different.
January 29th, 2015 at 7:24 pm
Glad we have McDonald on our team. At $3M per year for the next 3 years – he is exactly the type of solid player/good value type FA pick up that Licht claimed he prefers early last year. Wonder why he went against his stated preferences in giving up all that $ to Johnson (and Collins to a lesser but still uncomfortable degree)? I’m guessing regarding Johnson there was some coaching influence there – as in – “I want this guy – pay what you have to to get him locked up as soon as free agency starts…”
January 30th, 2015 at 12:15 am
Man I’m tired of every year we have a new guy and he might only be a one year wonder at defensive end. When can we get someone who is just consistent? Damn. I’m tired.
February 2nd, 2015 at 3:01 pm
[…] No wonder McDonald’s old teammates called him “truck driver.” […]